Tripod Mistaken for a Rifle Causes Stamford School Lockdown

There was a lockdown of several Stamford schools Friday morning after students saw a woman walking in the woods behind Scofield Magnet Middle School carrying what they believed was a rifle.

It turned out the woman was a photographer carrying a tripod so she could take pictures of the fall foliage, according to The Advocate.

Assistant Chief James Matheny and 18 other officers responded to Scofield Magnet as well as Northeast Elementary School, The Bi-Cultural Day School, The Children’s School, The Holy Spirit School, and Villa Maria School that were placed in locked down while police investigated the incident that was reported about 10:36 a.m., according to the report.

The schools were reopened after police confirmed the woman was indeed carrying a tripod and not a weapon.